Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-11-10
THE GREAT FLOP
CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER. CASES.
Mr.. Mason Thinks His HiRd-Sights Bet
ter. Than.His. Fore-SightS'
From he West Vigiaia Democrat, Nor. 1, 1857.

the 'Kickers.' Let us reason together.
If anv considera IL number in the party
adopt this poll, Vest Virginia goes Re-
publican. She cannot be spared in So.
We come to discuss this subject with lit
tie to retract and with no fayors to ask
but. in view of the result, with many mis-
givings whether the course pursued by US
was the wisest one that could have been fol-
lowed. We acted according to the lights
then before us andiwe expected very dill
ferent result We, have not the slightest
doubt that if what we attempted had been
accomplished it would have been best Tor
the State; but our efforts miscarrled, and 1t
Is freely admitted that had we known then
what we know now, our conduct would have
been very different. We then cherished the
delusion that it was possible for paper such
rs this to so arouse thoughtful men that they
would take sufficient interest in the public
veal to bring about the election OF some
man who measured up to our standard OF
what a Senator should be. We miscalcu-
lated the age in which we live. Did Cal
houn. Webster and Clay reside in West va.
to-day. it is doubtful whether majority
could be united to secure their services In
[
wears ago; we do believe it now.
Our fight was not against an individual !;
it was against the idea that nominations
and elections should be surrendered to men
who are active in politics only because they
are pensioners upon the bounty OF a mil
lionaire or because they expect, or actually
have. q salary from the Government we
thought our exertions would bring about Il
condition in which 4 candidate for the Sen
ate would be advocated only on the ground
that he was pre-. eminently qualified and pc
culiarly fitted for the place. 1t IS safer to
have the laws framed by persons whose
training in life has brought them close TO
the common wants of the masses; but we
were then and are now, keenly alive to
the fact that the most dangerous men in
Congress are those who, being unable to af-
ford expenses INDUCED in by their associ-
ates, cell themselves to the very influences
we try TO guard against. The most useiui
politicians to the railroad managers are the
men who. while loud in their professions to
the people. are at the same time dependent
on the railroad support for reelection.
The politicians least useful to the people
are the men who feel themselves too poor
to be independent and too friendle,s to in
eur the hostiities of the rich and powerful.
4 millionaire in the Senate is more apt to
act right than pensioner upon railroad ln-
fluence
Those with greatest experience with pub
lie sffairs best know how very few men can
stand the test of temptation. The desire
for personal advancement or the pressure OF
pecuniary distress, Optweighs with many
their LOYALTY to the cause an which they
have enlisted; but there are some men who
cheerfully sacrifice themselves to accomplish
a work in which they have embarked their
friends. The greatest need of this age Is
men in the public service who when occa-
sion requires, will sacrifice themselves to
their sense of duty. A sincere man, al
though mistaken or one subject but right
on others. is far mue useful in the world
than d much more learned and ADLER man
who lacks courage 10 act As his own Judg-
ment dictates.
There were among the "Kickers" those
governed by a stern sense of duty,-as they
understood their duty. To 90 into caucus
was to break the pledge upon which they
had been elected to refuse 10 90 into eau
Gus was to violate party usage which. IN
the opinion of some Is essential to party
success. To 20 into caucus was to be laud-
ed by the newspapers aud to be popular in
the most influential circles; to stay out Of
caucus was TO be bounded and branded as
kicker" We do not stand sponsor for
the motives Of every man who advised the
course that was adopted, but as to some Of
them we know whereof we speak and we
assert that they were prompted by per-
fectly unselfsh motive; we do assert that
they did not conspire to wreck the ship
hoping TO plumber the cargo we do say that
there were among the ''Kickers' men whose
sole object was to save the ship by making
a personal sacrifice. Can we spare such
men from the front! These are the men
most trusted in emergencies. They inspire
public confidence and make party strong.
Can we spare them at this time? Can we
afford 10 single them out and publish to the
people that our patty has Qstracised them
because they refused 10 break pledge CIV
en- to voters? BE it remembered, that pa
per endorsing their course was signed last
winter by 342 Democrats scattered over the
State, who, in their respective communities
are regarded As true men and who are as IN
huentja, as any Of their neighbOrs. We
well know that mauy believe that these en-
dorsements did not exhibit the popular
Judgment; for ourselves we firmly believe
that should the test be made the "kickers"
would be sustained by an overwhelming
vote: but this is not now the question:
the question is, is it good policy to single
out these 342 Democrats as the ones and the
only 0nas 20 be excluded from the hOn0rs OF
political life. We cannot do without them.
This issue must not be made before the peo-
pie. 1t is unwise for politicians to keep
alive, between themselves, an issue, not to
be discussed on the hastings and which
they do not wish tested in the primaries.
The simple truth is that chs bitterness
against those who refused TO caucus grows
cut of a feeling that unusual and unjustifi-
able methods we're resOrted to in order to
defeat Mr.. Camden. His supporters insist
that having secured a majority Of the DEM
ocrats in the Legislature they were entitled
to the fruits of their victory, and that it was
unfair for the minority to change the rules
of the game after the cards had been dealt.
The contention heretofore has been that
there was some duty binding on the con-
science of a Democrat which required him
to abide the caucus; but if the analysis be
made Mr.. Camden's supporters will md
that they are eXasperated by what they con
slider unfair treatment rather than outraged
by a breach of party discipline, We freely
admit that from their standpoint they haye
cause for complaint, and it is our purpose
Il -